The pressure will be halved.
Explanation
Pressure is defined as the physical quantity representing the amount of force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area. The mathematical relationship is expressed as:
P = F / A
Where P represents Pressure, F represents Force, and A represents the Surface Area.
Analysis:
- From the formula, it is evident that Pressure is inversely proportional to the Surface Area ($P \propto 1/A$) provided the Force remains constant.
- In the given scenario, the Force ($F$) is constant, and the Surface Area ($A$) is doubled ($2A$).
- Calculating the new pressure ($P'$):
$P' = F / (2A)$
$P' = \frac{1}{2} \times (F / A)$
$P' = \frac{1}{2} P$ - Therefore, when the area is doubled, the pressure is reduced to half of its original value.
Key Takeaway:
Pressure and surface area share an inverse relationship; increasing the area over which a constant force is applied distributes the force more widely, thereby decreasing the pressure.